The VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL; NCT 01169259) is a randomized clinical trial in 20,000 U.S. men and women investigating whether taking daily dietary supplements of vitamin D3 (2000 IU) or fish oil (1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids) reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses. This ancillary study is being conducted among participants in VITAL with a history of diabetes and will examine whether vitamin D or fish oil prevents the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease.

This ancillary study to the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) will test whether vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids, or both prevent the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Persons with diabetes are at high risk of kidney disease. In 2005-2008, the prevalence of DKD among people with type 2 diabetes in the United States was 34.5%. Moreover, from 1988-1994 to 2005-2008, the prevalence of DKD in the United States grew 34% to 6.9 million people. DKD is both the leading cause of end stage renal disease in the developed world and a potent amplifier of cardiovascular disease risk.

Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are promising interventions for DKD prevention and treatment, based on results of animal-experimental models and early human studies. Because these interventions are relatively safe, inexpensive, and widely available, they may offer opportunity to substantially reduce the burden of DKD in large populations. This VITAL ancillary study will test whether vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 fatty acids prevent progression of albuminuria and loss of glomerular filtration rate, two complementary manifestations of DKD, over 3 years of treatment.

In VITAL, 20,000 participants will be randomly assigned in a 2x2 factorial design to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 2000 IU daily versus placebo, and to eicosapentaenoic acid 465 mg plus docosahexaenoic acid 375 mg daily versus placebo, and followed for a mean of 5 years to assess effects on cardiovascular disease and cancer events. This ancillary study will identify and recruit a sub-cohort of VITAL participants with diabetes at baseline and ascertain effects of study interventions on albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate in this group. First morning voids will be collected at baseline and year 3 for measurement of urine albumin-creatinine ratio. Blood samples will be collected simultaneously for measurement of estimated glomerular filtration rate (using serum creatinine and cystatin C) and other relevant biomarkers. This VITAL ancillary study is designed to determine whether vitamin D3 and/or omega-3 fatty acids have causal and clinically relevant effects on the development and progression of DKD.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

50 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Participants in VITAL (NCT 01169259) with a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes are eligible to participate in this ancillary study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Type 1 diabetes

Diabetes only during pregnancy

Known cause of kidney disease other than diabetes

History of kidney transplantation

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01684722

Locations

United States, Massachusetts

Brigham Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Washington

Brigham and Women's Hospital

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)